53 FILIPINOS REPATRIATED FROM LIBYA

Fifty-three Filipinos working for a Korean company in strife-torn Libya arrived in Manila on Wednesday, marking the Philippine government’s fresh round of repatriation attempts amid the deteriorating political and security situation in the Middle Eastern nation.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Filipinos were working for Korean firm, Doosan Co.

The first batch of 20 of the 53 workers arrived at 4:30 p.m. aboard Emirates flight EK332.

The second batch of 33 workers arrived at 10:10 p.m. via EK334.

The 53 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are part of a larger group of about 251 who had expressed their desire to be repatriated.

Some 198 Filipinos in that group still remain in Libya.

The foreign affairs department “continues to remind our nationals in Libya to get in touch with the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli and volunteer for repatriation.”

The Philippine government will shoulder the repatriation costs, the department said.

Forces loyal to former Libyan General Khalifa Haftar launched air strikes on Wednesday against three areas of the city of Benghazi.

This happened after a reported ceasefire deal between the renegade commander and a government crisis committee.

On the other hand, Libya’s Supreme Court on Tuesday declared the election of Ahmed Maetig as prime minister to be unconstitutional.

Maetig, 42, is an independent candidate backed by religious groups.

He was elected in a chaotic session of parliament in early May, in a vote that was disputed by some politicians and judicial experts.